‘Walk of Life’ prayer rally defends life, not criminals—Villegas

Archbishop Socrates Villegas. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ ALEXIS CORPUZ

The Walk for Life prayer rally on Saturday is not a protest defending drug addicts or killers, but rather a gathering of Catholic lay people fighting for the sanctity of life stemming from God.

Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop Socrates Villegas said the three-hour activity will not defend drug addicts and other criminals, as he stressed the importance of due process for criminals.

“The Walk of Life is against drugs. The Walk for Life is not in defense of drug addicts and pushers. Drugs are bad, and drugs are fatal,” he said.

Villegas, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said the prayer rally is for those who can no longer speak after being silenced by a bullet or by fear for their lives.

“(This) is not to defend drug addicts, killers. Criminals should be arrested, charged, sentenced and jailed to correct wrongs. Guilt should be proven in a court of law, not the law of the bullet,” he said.

The prelate issued the statement on the eve of the Walk for Life prayer rally at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

The activity expected to draw around 20,000 faithful condemning the reimposition of the death penalty and the spate of extrajudicial killings amid the government’s war on illegal drugs.

READ: 20,000 expected to join ‘Walk for Life’ — organizers

It was organized by the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas, an organization of Catholic lay people, although the activity was endorsed by the CBCP.

The prayer rally will begin at 4:30 am Saturday, lasting for around three hours.

READ: CBCP urges Pinoys to join ‘Walk for Life’ vs killings, death penalty

It may be recalled that the CBCP has been vocal in its opposition against the death penalty and the extrajudicial killings, even issuing separate pastoral statements condemning the culture of death.

Villegas said the Walk for Life is for those who have been silenced after being killed, or presently addicted to illegal drugs.

“We are gathered here for those that cannot walk anymore because of our sins against them. They cannot walk because they were killed and we were too afraid of getting implicated. They cannot walk because they are afraid that might be next gunned down. They cannot walk because of drug addiction. They cannot walk because they were killed by drug addicts, whose minds are blinded. They cannot walk because of our sins against life,” he said.

Villegas added: “The Walk for Life is for them. We will walk and stand up for all of them.”

Aside from the reimposition of the death penalty and the spate of extrajudicial killings, he cited five other “sins” from A to E which they should firmly oppose.

These are: abortion, blasphemy against the name of God, corruption, drugs and executions.

Villegas noted that illegal drugs are against life itself, since illegal drugs kill not only the user, but even the victims of rape, robbery, and killings.

On the other hand, killings take many forms – from executions, to “salvaging,” to summary executions, and now the spate of extrajudicial killings.

“Killings, may it be done by criminals or enforced by the government through the death penalty, are still killings. We cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing those who kill. It also increases the number of killers,” Villegas stressed.

He also cited the significance of holding the prayer rally at dawn, noting that most of the drug suspects killed through summary executions were found at dawn.

“It is around this time that bodies are found on the sidewalk or near a pile of trash. Dawn, which is supposed to be a time for new beginnings, becomes a time of tears and fears because of those killed during the night,” he said.

Villegas reiterated that rather than the death penalty, the police, the judiciary and the penal system must be reformed instead.

“No to death penalty. Yes to the reform of the criminal justice system. We urge Congress to allow solons to vote according to their conscience,” he said.

The prelate urged the faithful not to cower in fear from the darkness, as he stressed that there is still hope.

“Let us face those sowing fear and show that we are unafraid. Let us face the threats and show that God is with us. They cannot scare us because our faith in God is stronger,” Villegas added.